Dr. Thomas Shen
Allergy and Immunology
The Villages, FL
31 years experience male
Locations
Office
The Villages, FL
Insurances accepted
BlueCross BlueShield
Medicare
No Value
UnitedHealthcare
Aetna
Blue cross blue shield
Cigna
United healthcare
Medicaid
Preferred Care Partners
Office
Leesburg, FL
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Allergy and Immunology
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
53 Answers
6 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes: If it is not infectious (red, puffy, painful and/or draining) then you might try zaditor, (ketotifen) or opcon-a. If you believe you have infectious ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
None: Cats are more problematic in that allergen is contained in dander, hair, saliva, and urine in high amounts. Dogs differ somewhat also in the fact tha... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
A multitude of thing: Any particulate matter may irritate already inflamed mucosa in the allergic rhinitic. Not only allergens will affect the nose. The inflammatory natu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Irritant reactions: Studies looking at people with self stated adhesive (bandaid/tape) allergy point to the reaction being and irritant (mechanical) reaction rather than ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Maybe: There has been some published research in regards to streptococcus, staphylococcus causing itching, acting as a "super antigen" (causing activation of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
No: No proven diet answers to polymyositis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Try hydrocortisone : Try over the counter Hydrocortisone cream. Contact allergy, insect bites and the like will generally respond. If the rash looks infected however, t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Decongestants may: Decongestants may complicate and exacerbate hyperthyroid states. In general I do not recommend oral decongestants to any age group as there is a high... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Your Call: Probable acute sinusitis, most of which resolve by themselves without treatment. Most cases of acute sinusitis, or viral upper respiratory infections... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Unclear: Different antihistamines have different potencies. 10 mg of Zyrtec is equivalent to 180mg of Allegra (fexofenadine). Mg doseage as in all medicines ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
See your Allergist: See your local allergist, not all allergic symptoms are actually allergy. If you have become allergic you need to know to what, so that you can plan ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Hepa Filter for home: For the normal home a central furnace filter (filtrete 3m) and a hepa room filter are the normal choices. If you are talking dust mite allergy though... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes and no: Diprospan is Betamethasone diproprionate a corticosteroid. All corticosteroids can have significant side effects if given improperly or in the wrong ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes and no: Singulair (montelukast) will treat some of the symptoms of your pet allergy. It will not make your allergy go away. It blocks one of the chemical pa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
I'st really hard to walk around and go upstairs without being out of breath. is this a normal thing?
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
No it is not normal: At your age, unless you are quite obese, you should be able to walk and go upstairs without any shortness of breath at all. You should make an appoin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes: Serum sickness can lead to organ damage and vascular collapse if the offending agent is not stopped. Normally however it is a self-limited syndrome w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
When you think so: Fatigue is a multifactorial concept and has many medical and non-medical causes, many which resolve by themselves (stress, sleep). Urticaria (hives) ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
The first time: Time from ingestion to full activity is about 1 to2 hours. The same dose will act in the same way each time you take it, but may not seem as effectiv... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes: Two tablets of Claritin (loratadine) most likely will cause no significant problems. However large doses of antihistamines can cause significant card... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Not muck: Clarinex is the active metabolite of claritin, (loratadine) the molecule that is active after Claritin (loratadine) is processed by the liver. The me... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Maybe: Flonase contains alcohol and a rosewater smell which may be irritating to some. Also if the spray is used improperly it can be irritating to the sept... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Testing: Both contact patvh testing and type 1 immediate testing need to be done. Any allergist cqn do these.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Probably nothing: Elevated IgM can be a sign if hyper IgM syndrome an immunodeficient disease. Howerver most elevations are inconsequential.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes: You can take Claritin (loratadine) and dramamine at the same time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
No: There are no proven ways to enhance your immune system outside of general health measures. If you continue to have recurrent infections a visit to an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Anti-inflammatories: Modulating anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids and coal tar. Light therapy is also helpful for dermal symptoms.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Lichen planus is a : Lichen planus is a self limited disease and normally resolves in 8-12 months. In most circumstances oral steroids such as zempred are not needed. To... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes: Rhinitis is defined as inflammation and irritation of the mucosa (skin) inside the nose. There are many causes, from irritant (smoke, chemicals, perf... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
What sort of reactio: What sort of reaction to morphine have you had. Dilaudid is a close relative to morphine and if you had true allergy to morphine it is unlikely you c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Not to worry: Upper respiratory infections especially in the dry winter weather can cause mild nasal bleeding.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Dermatologist: See a dermatologist, rashes have many causes, a visit to the dermatologist may easily diagnose your rash.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Allergy may be the : A visit to your local allergist may be in order, allergic disease may be the cause of your ear problems.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Atrovent Nasal Spray: A quick help for runny noses of all sorts is atrovent nasal spray available by prescription only.
However if it is a chronic condition your local al... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Many possibilities: A chest x-ray and a ct sinus may give a clue as to infectious etiologies. If your symptoms continue a visit to an allergist, pulmonologist or ENT may... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
First antihistamines: If your hives are new (under 6 weeks) antihistamines may help. If your hives do not respond to the antihistamines or persist a visit to your local al... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Hard to tell: From your description it is diificult to tell what you may have going on. A possiblity is Urticaria or hives. Please see your physician as seeing a ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Contact allergy: Contact allergy can happen any time, even after using the same product for many years. A visit to a dermatologist or allergist who can perform contac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Moisturize: For eczema, whether allergic or not moisturization is the key. Soak in the bath until wrinkly, then apply a barrier cream to problem areas.
Allergy t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Inflammation: Nasal polyps are thought to be due to inflammation in the area, whether from infection, allergy or other causes. It is like a scar or callus in a sen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Complicated: The answer is complicated. In general glucocorticoids suppress the immune system by interfering with protein production in cells. That being said, g... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Reflux (Heartburn): Most likely esophageal reflux of acid from the stomach.
Try taking an OTC acid medicine 30 min prior to meals and see if it helps (zantac, Pepcid)
dri... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
No probably not: Tukol - Dextromethorphan (cough suppressant), guaifenesin (mucous thinner), pseudoephedrine (decongestant) will not likely help your post nasal drip.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Probably not: Although you smoke, it is probably an exacerbation of your asthma due to an upper respiratory infection. Viruses are more likely to aggravate asthma ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
It depends: Try breathe rite strips like the football players wear. They provide quite a bit of opening of the nasal canal if worn properly. However, you should... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes: Both are older antihistamines. They do cause quite a bit of sedation and can cause confusion in the young, elderly and enhance sedative properties of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Vaccination: Vaccination causes your body to initiate an immune response to the virus or bacteria in the vaccine, basically calling in the troops to better fight. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes: Triclosan doe encourage resistance.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Yes: You can become allergic to any drug, including corticosteroids.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Unknown: Canker sores or apthous ulcer are thought to be viral in nature. No immune problems are known to be associated with these benign ulcers. However sev... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Shenanswered
Allergy and Immunology 31 years experience
Lots: Beside the fact you can become dependent upon them for sleep, many especially the benzodiazapines can significantly alter normal brain chemistry.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
170
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Shen is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Shen is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
I was told after my nephrectomy in 1992 that I'd had anaphylaxis.with morphine. Demerol & dilaudid cause itching but I can use w/benedryl.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thanks, had not considered that. Will look into it!
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! IW I
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Saint Louis University School of Medicine, MO
Graduated 1992MD
Awards
Best Doctor, Castle Connolly
2002 - 2012, Castle Connolly Medical's Americaâs Top Doctors®
Affiliations
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology
American College of Physicians
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